The government of the Duke of York was hated for its despotism, and the contempt and disregard which it ever showed towards the popular interest; when, therefore, in 1673, war broke out again between England and Holland, the first opportunity was taken to surrender to its former possessors. Lovelace, who was absent at the time of the surrender, was sent to England in the Dutch fleet. “The colonists for the most part,” says Hildreth, “were not greatly dissatisfied with the change. The local magistrates on Long Island mostly swore allegiance to the Dutch. The people of New Jersey, where a government could hardly yet be said to exist, were prompt to follow the example, as were also the settlements on the Delaware. For a moment the province of New Netherlands revived.” But only, as it were, for a moment; in fifteen months the re-establishment of peace restored the possession of New York to the English. The duke, having obtained from his brother a new grant, sent out Major Edmund Andros as governor; and the Dutch authorities quietly surrendered the province once more. The inhabitants prayed to have an assembly, but their prayer was not granted, though some concessions were allowed. Nor was the desire of the three eastern towns of Long Island to be permitted still to remain attached to Connecticut, indulged. They were severed from that province, and a claim was put forth by New York for the whole territory as far as Connecticut River. This, however, was so stoutly resisted by the troops sent out under Captain Bull, at Saybrook, when Andros appeared there with several sloops of war, intending to enforce his purpose, that he finally abandoned the attempt, remarking jocularly, that such a Bull as had there met him deserved to have his horns tipped with gold. But though defeated in this instance, he was more successful with regard to the territory lying between the Kennebec and the Penobscot, which, during the Dutch supremacy, had been held by Massachusetts, and now was reclaimed by Andros. “Exclusive of this district of Sagadahoc, and of the settlements west of the Delaware, consisting of two Dutch and two Swedish villages, and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, now called Duke’s County, the province of New York contained twenty-four towns and villages, of which the sixteen on Long Island were arranged in three counties. The city of New York, at that time far inferior to Boston, had about 350 houses, and some 3,000 inhabitants. The very centre of the present city was a farm, which had been the company’s and was now the duke’s. The entire population of the province amounted perhaps to 12,000 or 15,000. The value of the annual exports was about £50,000. The exports were wheat, tobacco, beef, pork, horses, lumber, and peltry. The mercantile fleet counted three ships, eight sloops, and seven boats. Even on the island of Manhattan agriculture was the chief occupation. The manners of the people were simple.